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The family of the Chinese student whose gruesome murder and dismemberment was filmed and posted on the Internet say they are thankful for the help and support they have been shown after the "devastating attack" of their son's death.

The family of Jun Lin, 33, whose body was found in a suitcase in Montreal late last month, released a statement late Monday.

"Jun Lin was our beloved son. As the only son in the family, he was our pride and hope. Jun Lin believed in Buddhism. He was very kind and always enjoyed helping others. To his parents, he was a loving and considerate son. To his sister, he was a big brother who was always there for her," the family said.

"The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science at Concordia University told us he was an excellent student. His employer at the convenience store he worked at called him a model employee. His friends said he was optimistic, ambitious, and open-minded. He always trusted people with a positive approach to life."

Lin's family want people to remember their son's "kindness, diligence and love for life."

"It is our wish to take this opportunity to turn a devastating situation into something positive that brings the goodness and peace back to society."

Although the family acknowledged that the weeks since discovering Lin's death have been "an exceptionally difficult time," they thanked everyone who has helped to make things easier for them, including different levels of the Chinese and Canadian governments, embassies and consulates, the Montreal police and the staff and students of Concordia University, where Lin studied computer science.

"We have come to know so many people, such as the police, members of the Chinese Consulate, the university staff, the Chinese Students and Scholars Association at Concordia University, and Jun Lin's friends who have been working endlessly to help us out," the family said. "We are deeply touched by the kindness inspired by this human tragedy."

The family said they are grateful for the help that they received through Concordia, which set up a special fund to help them, and touched by the establishment of the Jun Lin award for Chinese students, an award they say "perfectly reflects Jun Lin's compassionate spirit."

Lin's parents, sister and uncle arrived in Montreal last Tuesday and are being cared for by the Chinese consulate and members of the local Chinese community.

Lin, who worked at a convenience store in south-end Montreal, was last seen on May 24 after finishing a shift there.

On May 29, a janitor at the west-end apartment of the alleged killer Luka Rocco Magnotta found Lin's torso inside a fly-covered suitcase in a garbage pile.

Later that day, Lin's foot turned up in a package delivered to Conservative Party headquarters in Ottawa, and his hand was found in a Canada Post sorting facility.

His other hand and foot were delivered to two Vancouver schools last week.

Magnotta fled to Paris and was arrested in Berlin last Monday.

Lin's family called for Magnotta's extradition "as soon as possible in order to bring justice and peace to our family, the Chinese community and the whole society."